Spring travel helps international friends understand Vietnam’s history and culture

PANO – “Spring travel helps international friends better understand the history and culture of Vietnam” is the sharing of many ambassadors and diplomats when visiting the Trung Sisters’ Temple in Me Linh district, Hanoi, on March 13^th, as part of the annual Friendship Spring Festival held by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations; the municipal Department of Tourism of Hanoi; and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Tourists visiting the Trung Sisters’ Temple in Me Linh district, Hanoi.

Held annually, the Spring Festival this year attracted more than 300 Vietnamese and international delegates, including ambassadors and their spouses, representatives of diplomatic agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations in Vietnam and other relevant central and Hanoi’s agencies.

At the Trung Sisters’ Temple, delegates offered incense to the two heroines and listened to the briefing on the sisters’ great contributions in fighting northern invaders and gaining independence for the nation. All delegates showed their respect for the ardent patriotism and courage of the two sisters. “Many other delegates and I so admire the two Vietnamese heroines,” said Venezuela Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui.

This was the first time Mexican Ambassador to Vietnam Sara Valdés Bolano had visited the Trung Sisters’ Temple. She shared, “This is a place very worth visiting. I did not know that Vietnam has so many heroines. Coming here, reading historical lines honoring the two sisters’ contributions to the nation, I understand why Vietnam has been able to overcome so many difficulties. The Vietnamese, regardless of gender, are ever-ready to sacrifice for their fatherland. This is an admirable tradition.”

Dr. Clayton Bond, partner of US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, also agreed when saying, “The feats of arms of the Trung Sisters show the spirit of the Vietnamese people. We are so proud that we had the chance to visit the temple today.”

Visiting historical relics not only helps international friends better understand the tradition of the national construction and safeguarding of Vietnam, but also opens up more opportunities for tourism. Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov shared that after the visit, he will advise Russian travel agencies to organize historical and cultural tours to Vietnam for Russian tourists.

As well as the Trung Sisters’ Temple, the delegates also had a chance to admire flower fields in Me Linh district and enjoy an exchange and culinary art program of Hanoi. According to Vu Thi Hai, Deputy Permanent Chairperson of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, the Friendship Spring Travel program aims to expand people-to-people foreign relations activities to the city’s districts, as well as widely promote images of the city’s historical, cultural and scenic sites, and traditional craft villages to international friends.

“The success of the Friendship Spring Travel 2016 will help Hanoi’s Department of Tourism organize new historical, cultural, and scenic tours to localities in the city in the coming time,” stressed Nguyen Huu Viet, a representative of the department.